Ogbuku: Why NDDC is on Project Inauguration Spree

Sunday Okobi

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has stated that the Commission is on an inauguration spree of projects in the States in the region because peace has since returned in the area.

Ogbuku, disclosed this in Port Harcourt at the opening of a three-day capacity building programme for Niger Delta Stakeholders on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Inclusive Peace and Sustainable Development with the theme: ‘Fostering Lasting Peace Through ADR: Lessons from the Past, Building Future Opportunities to Advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda’, which was organised by the Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution (DCR) of the NDDC.

Ogbuku, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Julius Oworibo, said the event gave the opportunity to sustain the peace that had been achieved in the region in order to ensure sustainable development. He emphasised that with peace, development would spread across the communities of the region, urging the people of the region to seek dialogue in place of violence.

According to him, “Without peace, development will not come our way. Recently, NDDC has been inaugurating projects in different states of the religion. “And that could be possible because of the peace that is being observed by the different people, different youth groups, women, elders in their communities.

“Without peace, things will not go forward. Today we are here to reinforce the saying that peace must be present, and development will move forward.”

He stated that the days when people of the region insist on protest are over, adding that it was time to seek peace even through dialogue and Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms.

He asked: “This peace that has come to us, how do we sustain it? The days are over when we say ‘we no go agree’, at times, we have to agree. So, how do we resolve issues without taking eyes from others and without our eyes being removed by other people?

“When you think that you are strong, there could be someone stronger than you somewhere to say okay come, let’s see how it is like at times the people who you think are so quiet they are not strong enough can surprise you.

“So the best thing to do is to see how we can resolve issues peacefully. We argue over things; we dialogue here in NDDC. We now prefer people who can talk to us than threaten us. When the people say they want to threaten us, we say let them come. We don’t have problems; people threaten us. But we rather talk to people who will come peacefully.”

The Acting Director of DCR, Godwin Ogedemgbe, noted that development cannot thrive in an environment where conflict exists, noting that the agenda of President Bola Tinubu on Renewed Hope falls in line with the Commission’s commitment to sustainable peace.

Ogedemgbe said the seminar provided the opportunity for the participants to reflect on what has worked in bringing peace in the region and sustain same.

He said: “The theme calls us to reflect deeply on what has worked; what must be reinforced and how we can leverage ADR to translate policy intentions into tangible, peaceful and prosperous outcomes for communities that have borne the brunt of conflict for far too long.”

However, a former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Udengs Eradiri, said the peace enjoyed in the region was following the right appointment made into the NDDC management by  Tinubu.

He said: “We want to appreciate the president for appointing a stable board in the NDDC. A board that has been able to dispense political authority to the people.

“The new NDDC is doing its job that is why there is peace and calm in the Niger Delta.

“One of the drivers of conflict is putting square pegs in round holes. Doing the wrong things lead to all the conflicts in the region.

“As we move on in the Nigeria space, let us do more to ensure that our leadership selection process is geared towards producing the right persons in the right offices.”